backcountry meds

“I just had my annual physical today. I asked the doc about perscribing a small supply of backcountry meds to have in my first aid kit. He said he had never been asked about this and if I would give him recommendations, he could probably do something like this.

I'm asking for your suggestions on what sort of perscription medications it would be good to take into the backcountry in your first aid kit.”

“Darvoset or Vicitan for pain.

Sorry I know I spelled those wrong.

Aleve (spelled that wrong too) for inflamation.”

“Mmm Vicodin”

“Bring some tequila too”

“Right! to wash the Vicodin down.”

“Percocets work good for pain too”

“And don't forget to ask for some Valium to calm you down when you see those bears!”

“Darvocet. Vicodin.

You might want to consider just plain Darvon, as Darvocet has acetomenophen (Tylenol) included, and if you're already taking Tylenol, you might creep close to toxicity.

A strong muscle relaxer might be a good idea, as well as a prescription-strength anti-diarrheal.

Aleve you spelled right. Generic is naproxen sodium. Always good to have a few along.”

“Demerol, man!
I'll meet you in the Whites...
lol!

Hmmmm...
mebbe you should get a fist full of Black Beauties for the next a.m., too.”

“Don’t forget the Morphine drip.”

“I know some people on the board do that, but it scares me - the thought that I might give someone a prescription drug that they turn out to be allergic to.
I do carry a good supply of OTC stuff though.
I have a wilderness first aid class coming up in February, I wonder what they recommend.”

“Oooh, something Chili said on another thread just gave me an idea.

Phenergan, to stop vomiting. It may come in patches, that'd be the best way to carry it.”

“I generally carry a small bottle of Aleve or Ibuprofen.”

“Vioxx helped my wife a lot when she recently had a problem with the joint in her elbow.”

“For a longer trip and antibiotic like a z-pac might be nice. Refer to Humanpackmule's Sierra Trip where antibitotics needed to be shipped in.”

“Everyone should carry a basic painkiller in their packs - Advil or Motrin work best for muscle aches and swelling. I take it every day as it helps me sleep. We also carry pepto bismal for stomach upsets - it can help stop minor diahhrea - and some allergy pills because they can be a problem sometimes (I'm allergic to molds and mildews - wet leaves can get to me.) We also carry a couple of Immodium for strong diahhrea, though we've never used it.

From the doctor however, you should get 3 or 4 caps of a strong painkiller in case of real emergency and maybe a strong antidiahhreal (sp?) especially if you are going to be in the backcountry for a while or travelling in the third world, and possibly an antibiotic, again only if it is for a long trip where you might not be able to get out to medical care for a few days. When hiking at altitude, since I have had problems in the past, I have twice asked for a prescription of Diamox. If you have any serious allergies you might want an epi-pen, which is only available by prescription.”

“No joke, Viagara is now being prescribed for HAPE. Doc, I'm fine in that department, but I'm going to Colorado, can I have some Viagara?

I read this in NG Adventure mag from last month.”

“Meppergans.”

“What a bunch of dope head pathetic losers.”

“Since I am susceptible to migraines, particularly if there's some interruption in my normal sleep pattern (e.g., excitement about starting a trip the next day, not sleeping well on a trip due to storm or uncomfortable sleeping area, etc.), I always take along several doses of Imitrex. But my doc also prescribed me some pain and anti-nausea meds in case the Imitrex doesn't work (happens sometimes). Another one is that I'm claustrophobic, so she prescribed some anti-anxiety drugs. BTW, the only meds I have ever actually taken were the Imitrex.”

“Cocaine can come in handy too!”

“LMAO @ WK! do you think i could ask for some ketamine, in case i have to tranquilize a bobcat? could happen!”

“Cipro/vioxx/whiskey/scotch. But I'll deny having any of it!”

“Lyra, you naughty girl!

But seriously, what would one need in their backpack other than aspirin, tylenol, ect.? That's excluding medications you might need for preexisting conditions. I'm just curious. On the surface, it would seem that other extreme pain killers might put you in a drugged enough state where it would create more problems.”

“Good point, Artex. That's why I'm very careful to make sure to take my Imitrex when I feel the onset of a migraine - I don't want to get to a point where I have to take the pain meds. In the backcountry, I want to have my wits about me....”

“I think it would be more for emergency use - like when cindy lu broke her ankle and had to wait for rescue.”

“True, twiggy.. but me personally, I'd fear I'd want to take anything strong just for fun.”

“The codeine I gave Cindy did the trick but I was not sure it was the thing to do. When the SAR people came I told them right off and they made no comment one way or the other. She really needed something and it turned out to be an all day affair before they got her out of there.”

“i wanted to ask my doc before but then i forgot.

I seriously doubt it though that a military doc will give me prescription strengh painkillers, anibiotics, and stuff like that.

would be worth a try though.”

“you mean "fun" as in taking percocet or something and heading out across the knife edge? that kinda "fun?" :)

like I said, I'd worry about giving out the prescription meds, but then why do I keep an whole bottle of percocet in my medicine cabinet? I'm not taking that stuff.”

“Hee hee, I meant that sorta tongue-in-cheek. I don't know if crossing knife edge after taking four percocet would be fun though, especially once you're halfway down to Chimney Pond. :-)”

“You know.. as if you were falling.. and like, stuff.”

“percocet makes me really crazy and does not kill the pain... that is a good reason not to go handing out things I suppose--people react differently”

“Is to make your Dr. understand. As in "I'll be in the backcountry, cut off from the rest of the world for a while. Can I get prophylactic prescriptions for pain and any infections I might have to deal with such as...."”

“...gangrene?”

“Gangrene only requires whiskey and a saw.”

“yeah, i guess the bobcat thing is kinda silly. maybe a panther!”

“LOL @ Artex...

I agree MaryPhyl...

I've never taken a percocet - the morphine in the hospital made me feel so bad I was afraid to. But I was also afraid I'd get home and the IB800 wouldn't be enough so I filled both prescriptions.”

“I don't think i would hand out perscption meds but i do bring some for my own use. If I need to. I usually carry an Imitrix pen for migranes and some oxicotin that I have left from an injury. I wouldn't take the oxi unless I was really laid up. It puts me to sleep.”

“Just carry a gun. If you fall and break something, shoot yourself! This will save on backcountry rescues and worring who will pay for them.

You can also use the gun to scare off bears, maybe kill them.

You could use it to rob other backpackers you run into. "Say, that Gregory pack looks nice. Fork it over!”

“Gregory Pack. Didn't he play Dr. Mengele in 'The Boys from Brazil'?

:)”

“Ha Ha!

Fork it over Mr. Pack!

MOOOOOHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!”

“Sorry. Bad pun...”

“I use naproxim sodium (Aleve generic) for joint pain--knees, Ibuprofin (Moltrin generic) for muscle pain--don't mix the two.

I think a strong anti-diahhea (sp?) is helpful. Didn't find immodium helpful.

Also need to add some stuff for burns--stove & sunburn, chapstick or the like.

Find helpful:

eye-drops if dust gets in your eyes
Benadryl cream for insect bites
Hydrocortisone cream for rash/itch”

“I don't think living in the Knoxville area I could ever get my never up to ask my doctor for an Rx to have as a "just in case" for the back country. Too much Rx and Street drug abuse in the area for any reputable physician to get mixed up in that. I will say that I don't throw out unused Vicodin or flush it like I used to. I when going into the back country I take a few along for emergencies. My husband and I have experienced first hand what a lack of such preparation can be like. It pretty much sucks. Having a strong prescription pain killer in your pack may make the difference between whether you can tolerate an injury and manage the pain well enough to walk out. We didn't have any when he got hurt. We were very lucky he was able to make it. I never even filled my Rx for pain meds when I had surgery. I avoid that stuff whenever possible.”

“The meds I have taken area;

Ibuprofen
Peyote
Shrooms
Cannibas
Whiskey
Vodka


Never needed any of them, but took them all!!!”

“percocet makes me really crazy and does not kill the pain... that is a good reason not to go handing out things I suppose--people react differently"
MaryPhyl
11:22:41 AM
01/08/04

Very true. Dont take stuff on the trail that you have not already tried out, you never know how your (or your buddy's) body will react. Like bit's suggestion of muscle relaxers. This may be a good idea for most people (?) but those things put me on my ass. I would be hiking very slow indeed until at least noon the next day. The cons may heavily outweigh the pros.”

“Phenergan is good to carry in case of vomitting, as someone mentioned earlier. Dehydration can occur quickly if vomitting isn't stopped. Phenergan is also good to take along with pain medications to prevent nausea or for those who have migranes that cause nausea.”

“Soma is a good overall muscle relaxer.


And it does not $$$ alot!

8)”

“chemicals, chemicals, chemicals. i need my chemicals.”